Men's Soccer Hosts Robert Morris in Penultimate Nonconference Game
Robert Morris at Penn State
2-4-2 | 0-2-1 B1G
3-1-4 | 1-0-2 Horizon
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – Penn State men's soccer begins a gauntlet week when the team hosts Robert Morris for the first tune-up of a rare three-match week on Tuesday, September 30 at Jeffrey Field. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. on B1G+.
Follow the Action
For fans of the Nittany Lions unable to attend the contest at Jeffrey Field, the game will broadcast live to a worldwide audience of authenticated subscribers via B1G+ and the B1G+ app. Jeremy Rose and Owen Cameros will call from the Jeffrey Field press box, while Bronwyn Liber will add further insight as a sideline analyst. Click the link here to be redirected to the live stream of the broadcast and sign in with credentials for access. Live stats provided by Penn State and StatBroadcast are available here.
KICKIN’ IT
Penn State men’s soccer looks to return to the Big Ten Tournament this year after a falter in the 2024 season, and earn an NCAA Tournament bid for the first time since the 2021 season.
Last time out, the Blue and White earned a tie in a tightly contested game at Jeffrey Field against No. 23 Maryland.
Malick Daouda, Caden Grabfelder, and Kai Phillip were each named Big Ten Players to Watch in the preseason. Daouda returns to the pitch this year after an All-Big Ten Freshman campaign in 2024. Grabfelder is the Nittany Lions top returning scorer and is expected to have a big season on the score sheet. Phillip comes to Happy Valley after three seasons with the University of Evansville, where the forward totaled 15 goals, including five game-winners and five assists. He guided his team to a 2024 NCAA Tournament appearance after winning the Missouri Valley Conference Tournament and was selected as the tournament MVP. In 2023, he was honored by the United Soccer Coaches with All-Region honors.
The trio has combined for 13 points and four goals so far this season.
O CANADA
After appearing in the first three games of the season, Nittany Lion freshman Ben Nash received a call up from the Canadian u18 National Team. The defender missed a pair of home matches while over in Finland with the national squad.
The rookie trained with the team from August 30 through September 8. In the stretch, he appeared in a pair friendlies, first facing Finland on September 5 and then Switzerland on September 7.
Nash is one of just two athletes called up to be on an NCAA Division I roster.
He made a start for the national squad in the match against Switzerland.
WHAT WE GOT BACK
Penn State returns 75% of its goal scoring from last year, including two of its top three scorers in junor Caden Grabfelder and senior Matthew Hederson. The Blue & White also welcomes back 73% of its overall scoring, with returning assist leader Christian Dionne tallying four in the last campaign.
Scouting Robert Morris
The Colonials are Coming
The Colonials hold a record of 17-14-12 under the helm of third-year head coach Jonathan Potter.
Robert Morris have an overall record of 3-1-4 this season, most recently drawing on the road to Purdue Fort Wayne. In the Horizon League, Robert Morris hold a 1-0-2 record.
The Colonials dish plenty of assists, averaging 2.38 per game, good for 20th-most nationally.
Goalkeeper Josh Lane ranks first in the Horizon League and 21st in the nationa in shutouts with four.
Last season, the Colonials finished with a record of 9-7-3 and were Horizon League Tournament Champions.
In the NCAA Tournament last year, Robert Morris lost in the opening round to Big Ten foe Michigan.
STORY OF THE SERIES
This game marks the fifth meeting all-time between the two schools, with the Nittany Lions holding a 4-0-0 record against the Colonials.
The last meeting between the pair was in 2013, in which Penn State won, 1-0, at home.
Penn State faced Robert Morris in the first round of the 1993 NCAA Tournament, defeating them 3-0.
Follow the Nittany Lions
Visit GoPSUSports.com for more information on Penn State men’s soccer. Fans can keep up to date with the Nittany Lion men’s soccer team on X and Instagram @PennStateMSOC, in addition to the team’s Facebook page at /PennStateMensSoccer.